Never Miss a Chance to Do the Most Good
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Never Miss a Chance to Do the Most Good
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Pandemic Poverty is Far From Over But...Hope Marches On
As more and more Americans get vaccinated against COVID-19, it seems like the end is finally in sight. That makes it even easier to forget that for millions of Americans, the crisis is far from over.
But hope marches on.
Many of your neighbors are struggling every day to make ends meet. People in your community don’t know how they are going to keep the car running and the heat and electricity on. In fact, 7.1 million Americans are behind on the rent, and 63% of all Americans are living paycheck to paycheck.
But hope marches on.
Food insecurity continues to be a source of pain for a large portion of the population. Families without access to nutritious meals are going hungry every day. Today, 20 million Americans don’t have enough food to eat.
But hope marches on.
Today we need hope more than ever, if only to keep others from losing it. A life without hope is the breeding ground for all kinds of physical and spiritual diseases, including alcoholism and drug addiction. And if we’ve learned from the record number of people who overdosed in 2020, it’s that hope is in short supply for a lot of people in our communities.
But hope marches on.
What started in 1891 as one pot to collect funds to feed a free Christmas dinner has grown into our annual Red Kettle campaign. To the homeless, the red kettles represent safe shelter from the streets. To the hungry, they promise a warm meal. To those struggling with addiction and alcoholism, they mean the possibility of a new life free of the bondage of chemicals.
And for everyone, the red kettles represent hope.
Our work this holiday season is going to be even more crucial to serve the most vulnerable — regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or gender orientation — in Metro Detroit.
Help us assist families in need this Christmas season,
and throughout the year
Donate Now
Ring the Message Out
The Salvation Army is also encouraging individuals and families to sign up as volunteer bellringers where they have an option to choose a traditional, two-hour session at a physical red kettle site or participate in a virtual bellringing shift where they can raise funds in the comfort of their own home.
How We Help
Homeless shelters
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are like those we experienced after natural disasters - only this time, the losses are across the entire Metro Detroit area and will be longer lasting. And as with any disaster, we are there, on the ground, providing physical, emotional, and spiritual support. The Salvation Army serves those in need 365 days a year through homeless shelters, traditional housing, permanent supportive housing, and re-entry resources.
Grocery assistance
According to recent U.S. Census Bureau statistics, “26 million adults – 10.8% of all adults in the country – reported that their household sometimes or often didn’t have enough to eat in the past seven days” because of the COVID-19 pandemic. We’ve already seen it. Grocery delivery is the most requested service The Salvation Army has been providing during the pandemic. Our food pantries and meal programs will be stretched to capacity to fulfill the need this holiday season, so we’ll need your generosity to make sure no one goes unfed.
Angel Tree Program
Economic pressures from the COVID-19 pandemic have forced millions of parents to choose between paying rent/utilities and buying Christmas presents. Every year, we provide nearly 205,000 Christmas toys and gifts for children and shut-in seniors. Anonymous donors adopt these little “angels” in an expanding Christmas tradition that makes the season more rewarding for the gift giver and happier for the receiver. Contact your local corps community center to receive help from Angel Tree. If you'd like to become a donor, view the Angel Tree Virtual Guide.
Bill assistance
The coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc on families who were already struggling to pay the bills. In fact, about 12 million families throughout the country missed mortgage or rent payments at least one month this year. Of those, 7.8 million families are also struggling to provide meals, an increase of 1.8 million families since before the pandemic. The devastation is along the lines of the 2008 recession, with 8 million families in danger of missing their mortgage payments or rent.
We help struggling households pay their utility bills, offsetting the added financial burdens that come with Christmas-season expenses. This allows low-income families to maintain self-dignity and stability while keeping up with their bills and keeping the heat on during those cold winter months.
Need Help Making ends meet This Christmas?
This Christmas, Join Us As Hope Marches On
Help us give hope to those in need who feel forgotten.